When I was 13 I went with to my sister and brother in law's parents home. It was winter they lived in upper Minnesota in an old farm house with only a wood cooking stove no other heat. His mother spent most of her time up stairs sewing quilts just to keep them warm at night. They were dirt poor and wouldn't take any help not even from their own son. All of her quilts were made from men's ties and were beautiful. I have a few of her quilt tops that my brother in law asked me to finish for him. The tops are very heavy as she sewed the ties on to muslin squares when sewed the squares together. Oh they did later have better heating for the house.